Off-boom sheeting
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13532
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 7:23am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Off-boom sheeting
Posted By: snowleopard
Subject: Off-boom sheeting
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 8:42am
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I've just acquired an elderly 420. The current sheeting arrangement has a single-and-becket block on the traveller (at aft end of c/b case) and two blocks dangling on strops from the boom. That means that the fall of the sheet comes off the boom rather than the more usual lead from the hull. I queried that with the vendor and he said he sailed it that way. It would take quite a bit of surgery to fit a swivel block and jammer so I'm debating whether to stick with what I've got. The obvious snag is that I could end up losing my grip on the sheet on a reach and having it dangling out of reach. so - anyone used to sailing with an off-boom sheet and how is it best to handle it? ------------- One hull good, two hulls better. |
Replies:
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 10:12am
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Most Blaze sailors use off the boom, as do many skiffs but with two blocks on the boom how does that work. The Blaze has only a single block halfway along the boom and the remaining tackle at the aft end (one block with becket on boom and another block on the rope traveller) the mainsheet goes from boom to traveller to boom, then along the boom to the ratchet on a mid boom strop and to the helm. The advantage in the Blaze is that you have nothing going from the boom to the cockpit floor in-between the mast/kicker and transom. The skiff guys do it to allow the crew to play the mainsheet upwind (mozzy would explain better). If you have two mid boom blocks that implies that the sheet goes to the cockpit floor and back up again which doesn't make much sense? ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 11:22am
| Used off the boom in an old Ent, I couldn't stand aft sheeting and the centerboard case wasn't strong enough for a block.......It worked well. Tie the end of the sheet onto something in the cockpit. The hand drill with minor adjustments is pretty much the same as standard center main. |
Posted By: GarethT
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 5:20pm
| I'm guessing you can't cleat the main off the boom. Will that be a problem hoisting the kite? |
Posted By: tink
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 6:16pm
You can have a stopper knot and a long mainsheet with the bitter end tied somewhere around the thwart Tried it in my streaker, loved it be easy to over sheet on a una sail boat, sloop will be better Just try it ------------- Tink https://tinkboats.com http://proasail.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 12 Feb 20 at 10:21pm
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I wouldn’t sail my 300 any other way! ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 9:13am
Who pulls the kite up on a 420? Suppose it depends how it's rigged. One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that a ratchet block on the boom is generally bigger than the usual one. It hurts more if it smacks you on the head. 
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Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 9:53am
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Photos would help to puzzle out why it's been rigged that way. Rereading the OP it sounds like it's a centre mainsheet and I've never seen one rigged off the boom? ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 10:03am
| Just Looked at the class rules and looks like sheeting off the boom is not allowed but if Snowleopard is not doing class events.................. |
Posted By: GarethT
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 12:18pm
Crew will be messing about with the pole, so helm hoists |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 13 Feb 20 at 1:44pm
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I'd guess the boat originally had a swivel block and cleat behind the traveller. Modern 420's seem to favour strops, maybe you could convert to that and use the traveller fixings on the CB case for the block and cleat? ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: snowleopard
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 11:32am
Correct. In fact I believe my centre mainsheet traveller is also illegal; the rules specify a rope strop. I'll only be doing local handicap racing so I doubt anyone will care. The spars are Proctor, circa 1975 (remember gold anodising?!) the boom has a series of s/s tubes through it to which ropes strops are spliced with the blocks attached. At present they are positioned for sheeting off the back end of the case. I actually prefer aft sheeting so I can hold sheet and tiller with one hand. ------------- One hull good, two hulls better. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 11:44am
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Hold the tiller extension across your chest and you can hold both with one hand plus the added advantage of being able to sheet in hand over hand. I can't think of any advantage* to an aft mainsheet, I hated it in my Heron when I was 12/13 and tolerated it in the Ent in my 30s but, for me, a centre led mainsheet is better in every way. * I've just thought of one, you can tack facing backwards with both sheet and tiller in front of you which is slightly more intuitive for beginners.
------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 12:03pm
You do need to tell your club you are sailing with the boat out of class though. |
Posted By: snowleopard
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 12:16pm
The current setup is as follows (If I tried to photograph it today I'd be somewhere on Dartmoor in short order!) Sheet attached to becket on traveller - to block near mid-boom - back to block on traveller - up to second boom block just aft of other one - down to helmsman's hand. Hope that makes sense. ------------- One hull good, two hulls better. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 15 Feb 20 at 3:46pm
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Ok that is how I had visualised it. I must admit I'd be inclined to bin the traveller and use rope strops with a block and cleat fixed where the traveller has been removed but why not just try it as is and see if it works before making a decision to do some extra work? ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: johnbrooker
Date Posted: 16 Feb 20 at 2:30pm
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Never sailed a 420 but I recommend looking at what the top 420s have and replicating their system. Copying is the quickest way to get better. ------------- https://dinghyracingtips.com" rel="nofollow - Dinghy Racing Tips Blog https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-XsHqQUPXWd-cuuPZIUqQ" rel="nofollow - Sailing Tips YouTube Channel |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 17 Feb 20 at 7:08am
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Aft main, OK for cruising, off the boom sheeting is the work of the devil. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 17 Feb 20 at 9:18am
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Love aft sheeting. Grew up with it. It leaves more space in a boat to move around, means you don't have to move aft tacking in light winds, and give far better purchase. Less control gybing in a breeze, though.
Off boom seems to work for some boats and not others. All to do with ergonomics, I guess. For instance, in a Minisail, it makes sense if sitting on a sliding seat, but not if lower down on the side deck in the standard boat. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 24 Feb 20 at 11:52am
I sail my 300 from the floor block, personal preference.
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Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 09 Apr 20 at 7:16am
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We changed the sheeting on the 3000 to off the boom. But it was mostly to make crossing the boat easier by removing the parts between boom and hull in the middle of the boat. Ie the sheet goes from a Becket on the boom to a block on a strop on the transom, back to the boom then forwards along the boom to a block and then to the helm's hand. Extra space and more control. Works as the sheet loads are very small and allows continuous control of the leech tension. Sounds like this 420 doesn't gain any space but may gain some extra control, saves the cost of one block and a cleat! ------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |